Top 10 Home Trends That Buyers Want in 2016

2016 is here! It’s time for fresh ideas and new designs. What trends will buyers be gravitating towards when looking for their new home this year? We will definitely see sustainable living and smart home technology on their wish lists. What else?

1. New finishes

Matte finishes will slowly replace stainless steel in 2016 and 2017. Don’t worry, they will still blend in with existing appliances such as stainless or black and white, but it will help the homeowner save money by transitioning their appliances over time instead of having to buy everything all at once. The matte finishes have a bonus, too. They hide fingerprints, smudges and dirt, and they are easier to clean than typical stainless steel finishes.

2. Cushioned flooring

The days of cement flooring are out. It’s too cold and hard on the feet. Cork flooring is making a comeback. It now comes in a variety of colors and is much more comfortable to walk on than traditional wood flooring and ceramic tile.

3. Circadian lighting

This year, GE is expected to release its new smart LED bulb that can change the color of the light that’s emitted to sync with the body’s circadian rhythm. “C by GE” uses Bluetooth connectivity to communicate with your smartphone so you can personalize your color temperature settings throughout the day. It’s designed to sync with your sleep cycle. You’ll be able to set it to change from energizing white light during the day to a warmer, more relaxing orange glow in the evening.

4. Better water quality

The National Association of Homebuilders’ 2016 New American Home will feature a whole-home water filtration system, and this will be an ongoing trend in new homes. Clean living is in. For existing homes, this will be a popular feature tacked onto home renovation budgets.

5. Simplicity and tech

Efficient, family-friendly layouts and open floor plans with smart home technology are going to be more popular than ever in 2016. Today’s buyers are looking for homes that are well-designed with more space in central living areas, great flow and clever, built-in storage. And a large percentage of buyers won’t be looking for the huge, 3,000-square-foot properties anymore. Smaller, smart homes are what tech-savvy buyers want — especially millennial buyers. They are all about respect for the environment, conserving energy and high-tech homes.

6. Less grout surfaces and a clean aesthetic

Luxury vinyl flooring and larger tile (12-by-24 inch or 36-by-36 inch as opposed to 12-by-12 inch) will be a huge trend in 2016. There will be more of the larger 5-by-10 foot tiles in shower surrounds and walls in bathrooms. These larger, smooth surfaces not only have a simple, clean design aesthetic, but they also use less grout, which is difficult to clean and susceptible to mold and mildew.

7. Lower pile rugs

Fewer shags and more patterned carpets will replace the standard plush. Cut and loop will be popular in 2016 and beyond. Carpet pattern and texture increase the perception of quality and value in carpet and can contrast beautifully with smoother elements such as walls, counters and furniture surfaces.

8. Enhancing health with clean design homes

With all of the healthy home products available to consumers right now, it’s possible to live in an environment that is beautiful, sustainable, energy efficient and safe with no sneezing or off-gassing. Top trends will be fabrics that don’t hold dust, Quartz stone countertops that are lower maintenance with antibacterial properties and durability, mudrooms with benches where people can leave their shoes to prevent toxins from entering the home and under-mounted sinks, which keep things cleaner by not trapping bacteria in the lip of the sink.

9. Luxury home amenities

The luxury market will also include new high-end amenities such as outdoor showers, procedure rooms, separate guest spaces and private museums.

10. Multi-family construction

Millennials and Generation Xers are likely to make up the largest portion of homebuyers in 2016. New developments are now thinking outside of the box by offering a wide variety of amenities such as pet-friendly facilities, observatories, luxury spa services, valet parking and on-site workspaces to appeal to this demographic. Sustainable living and smart home technology is here to stay and is just getting bigger and better year after year.

 

Article from Inman.com